𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙁𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂 ◊ 𝘚. 𝘚𝘛𝘐𝘓𝘐𝘕𝘚𝘒𝘐

◊ 𝟏.𝟓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋

༻இ༺

***

I WAS PACKING my backpack as Allison walked into my room.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah, just give me a second." I zipped my backpack, turned around, and swung the backpack strap over my shoulder.

"Oh! Actually, wait a second. I need to give you your gift."

"Ollie, you didn't have to get me anything."

I waved off her protest, "Nonsense, you gave me something for my birthday and Christmas when you barely knew me."

I went to my desk and pulled a small, flat white box wrapped in a little red bow from the top drawer. I gave it to Allison with a wide smile. I snuck into the welding classroom several times to make the gift.

Allison pulled on the ribbon and opened the top of the box to reveal a familiar necklace. Instead of a corded string, it had a delicate metal chain with an anti-possession charm dangling from the middle of the necklace. She gasped in awe at it.

"It's beautiful." Allison studied it closely and realized it was the same charm I always wear on my necklace. "Did you make this?" She noticed the imperfections on the charm since I had made it by hand, and I didn't have any extra charms.

I nodded bashfully, "Yeah, I thought you would like having a matching necklace. You know because we're friends." I scratched the back of my neck.

Allison chuckled at my nervousness, "More like my best friend." She leaned in to hug me tight, and I patted her back a few times.

"I have to ask, why a pentagram?" Allison asked after pulling away.

I smile at her question, "It's not anything demonic I swear. In a lot of cultures, it's used as a symbol of protection and to ward off evil."

"That's cool! How do you know about this stuff?"

"I had a lot of time of my hands before your dad took me in." I shrugged. "I can help you put it on if you want." She agreed, and I helped her clasp the necklace around her neck, the charm settling on her chest.

"I hope no one else gives me a necklace today." Allison joked once she turned back around to face me. I smiled confusedly at her words.

"My aunt gave me a necklace too." She clarified, seeing my face, and lifted the necklace up for me to see. The pendant was fascinating. I had a wolf in the middle of it with some sort of starburst in the corner.

"It looks cool," I told her as she let go of the pendant, letting it fall back against her body.

"Kate said it was a family heirloom, and I had to figure out what the thing in the middle represented." I kept the smile on my face but could feel myself stiffen. Is Kate trying to induct Allison as a hunter now? Can't wait until Chris finds out. I think sarcastically to myself as I nod at her words.

"Nice! So, are you going to work your detective skills to figure out what it means."

"Yep. Kate is making me work for it."

I laugh, "Your aunt is interesting to say the least." I clapped my hands, "Well I think we should get going before we're late to school. Let's go birthday girl." I smile at her before we walk out of my room and to her car.